HOOVER, Alabama -- Hoover's powerhouse athletic program had 17 of its student-athletes lined up on Wednesday for National Signing Day.

A right to a college education through athletics is an impressive feat no matter the athlete. Yet senior Marlon Humphrey, on his way to Alabama, will be the standout signee among Hoover's traditional National Signing Day athletics program.

Humphrey sat next to four other members of the 2014 back-to-back Class 6A state champion Hoover football team on Wednesday at a ceremony at Hoover High.

Is there a whiff of any surprise today with Humphrey? Not likely. Not unless Hoover has a plan to flip over that namecard.

12:20 PM: We've added the video of Marlon talking about a lot of things.

He covers his future in Tuscaloosa, what number he might wear, how he'll compete with an eye on a starting position and even what was the difference between Alabama and FSU.

He even broke out a bow tie to mark the occasion of the first day of his college football future in Tuscaloosa.

He always thought he would go to Alabama, but he said that Florida State was "neck and neck" at the start of this season.

"I really just think about practicing and staying focused," he said. "Just trying to do what I can. I'm starting back at the bottom as I did here when I was a sophomore. Just trying to get that starting position. That's what really is on my mind."

Landon Collins wears the Humphrey family's No. 26 at Alabama, but he said that's not really on his mind at all.

"I doesn't really matter to me what number I get as long as I have my name on the back," he said.

10:31 AM: Humphrey just signed a document at the podium.

It is not certain whether that is part of his official Alabama SEC scholarship package or not.

These things can be staged dog-and-pony shows at times. It is often rare to see the recruits sign their official SEC papers at the table.

UPDATE: As it turns out, Humphrey simply signed a blank piece of paper. He signed it "Marlon Humphrey #0" as he said later that he's uncertain what number he will wear at Alabama.

When he met the media after the ceremony, he said he had already signed his scholarship papers and returned them to Alabama.

10:29 AM: When you have 17 signees, it takes awhile to get to Humphrey.

Hoover's celebrated track coach Devon Hind is going through his listing of track signees at this time.

10:17 AM: Humphrey is now being introduced by Hoover head coach Josh Niblett.

He is, no news there, being presented as an Alabama signee.

Niblett raves about Humphrey the person and the competitor aside from all of the athletic ability.

That's something that gets lost while everyone marvels at his skills as a man coverage cornerback and his All-World exploits on the junior track circuit as a hurdler.

He finished second in the world in the World Youth Games in Ukraine this summer despite being troubled by a nagging back injury.

10:08 AM: Wheels up. The signing ceremony is underway. Hoover will go through brief introductions with coach comments on all of the school's signees today.

10:00 AM: Humphrey is among 17 Hoover seniors planning to sign today.

UPDATE: Here's the list of all 17 Hoover students signing some form of athletic scholarship on National Signing Day.